Lynn pair among three facing numerous weapons charges

LYNN – A judge ordered a New York man held on prior charges and set $1,500 cash and $2,500 cash bail for two city men, respectively, after State Police pulled the men over for speeding through a crosswalk and found a loaded gun hidden inside their car.But defense attorneys argued the men had only picked up the car 15 minutes earlier and there was no indication the defendants knew about the weapon.Euristene Ferreras, 29, of 1 Freeman Square, was arrested and charged with carrying a firearm without a license; carrying a loaded firearm without a license; possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card; carrying a dangerous weapon; operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, subsequent offense; speeding; and failure to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk; on July 3.Wilfredo Encarnaciongonza, 28, of 28 Mudge St. #1, and Alfred Garo, 25, of 162nd St. #4E, New York, N.Y., were arrested and each charged with carrying a firearm without a license; carrying a loaded firearm without a license; possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card; and carrying a dangerous weapon.Each defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday in Lynn District Court.A state trooper on duty in Market Square reported a Mercury Sable sped past him and did not stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk at approximately 1:30 p.m. July 3.The trooper stopped the car and found neither Ferreras, who was driving, nor front-seat passenger Garo nor backseat passenger Encarnaciongonza had a valid driver’s license, according to a report by Trooper Douglas Dolan.Ferreras allegedly told the trooper he didn’t realize anybody was in the crosswalk until after he had passed through it.While taking an inventory of the car before towing it, police found a fully loaded Baretta .25 caliber pistol that was “hot” – “meaning it was ready to be fired with a single action pull of the trigger,” Dolan reported.The pistol was stuffed between two cushions of the backseat, and a small corner of the gun was visible, Dolan said.”The pistol was easily accessible to any of the vehicle’s seats,” Dolan reported.Police also allegedly found a six-inch steel combat knife next to where Encarnaciongonza was sitting.Ferreras allegedly told police he and his friends had picked up the vehicle, which belonged to his aunt, 15 minutes prior to being stopped. When asked about the gun, Ferreras allegedly began to sweat profusely and “stated I do not want to talk about the gun,” according to the report.Garo and Encarnaciongonza each reportedly said the gun did not belong to them.Ferreras’ aunt had no criminal record, while the trooper reported multiple assault charges on both Ferreras’ and Garo’s records. Garo also had a gun charge from 2012, police said.”I believe that the three parties had knowledge and the ability to possess dominion over the firearm as it was centrally located within the vehicle,” Dolan wrote.Essex Assistant District Attorney Katelyn Giliberti requested Ferreras be held on $20,000 cash bail. Giliberti said the defendant recently completed a three-year sentence for drug trafficking. His Lynn history included assault charges and violating probation by being charged with aggravated assault, the assistant district attorney said.She requested Garo be held on $20,000 cash bail for the new charges and also that his bail be revoked on a drug distribution charge out of Woburn.Giliberti noted Encarnaciongonza had no criminal record, but she requested $10,000 cash bail.”The gun could be fired with one simple move,” she said.But court-appointed defense attorney George Abi-Esber said police reported that only a small corner of the gun was visible and noticed this only when a trained state trooper was searching the car. He said his client said he had no connection with the gun and asked that he be released on personal recognizance.Court-appointed defense attorney Christopher Burke echoed this argument in representing Ferreras.”He was driving, but that does not indic